Dreadlocks

Locs, often called dreadlocks, are a hairstyle consisting of rope-like strands of hair.

These strands can form naturally in hair with very tight curls. People can also create them using specific techniques. These methods include twisting, backcombing, or using a crochet tool to entangle the hair. Many people prefer the term "locs" to describe these entangled locks of hair. This term refers simply to the locks themselves. The word "dreadlocks" has several proposed origins that carry different meanings. Some link the term to the Jamaican Rastafarian movement. In this context, it may refer to a sense of dread or awe toward God. Others suggest the name came from the word "dreadful." This usage was reportedly used by white people during the slave trade to describe the matted hair of Africans. Because of these negative historical implications, many people today drop the "a" and use "locs" instead.

Different cultures use unique names for these hair strands. In Sanskrit, they are called Jašā. The Wolof people use the terms Ndiagne and Ndjan. In Akan, they are known as Mpesempese, while Yoruba calls them Dada. Other names include Ezenwa and Elena in Igbo, Goscha in Hamer, and Mhotsi in Shona. These names show how widespread the hairstyle is across many different languages. The practice of locking hair is not a new trend. It is a deeply rooted tradition with many different purposes. For some, it is a spiritual choice. For others, it is a way to celebrate heritage. It can even be a way to resist social standards.

Locs have a very long history that stretches back to ancient times. In ancient Egypt, people wore locked hairstyles and even locked wigs.

Archaeologists have found evidence of these wigs on statues and mummified remains. In the Sahara Desert, braided hair has been worn since 3000 BCE. The earliest possible depictions of locs in Europe date to the Minoan Civilization around 1600–1500 BCE. Frescoes on the island of Thera show individuals with long braided hair or locs. In Mesoamerica, Aztec codices describe priests with long, matted hair. These priests were described as having hair so clotted it could not be disentangled. This shows that locs have appeared in many different parts of the world throughout history.

In Africa, locs often carry deep religious or spiritual meaning. In Senegal, the Baye Fall followers of the Mouride movement wear locs.

This group uses the hairstyle to symbolize their religious orientation and to detach from Western ideals. In West Africa, the water spirit Mami Wata is said to have long, locked hair. Her spiritual power of healing and fertility is linked to her dreadlocks. West African priests called Dada wear locs to honor her. In Nigeria, the Aladura church uses locs in a way that combines Yoruba beliefs with Christianity. Some Yoruba people also believe that children born with natural locs, called Dada, possess innate spiritual powers. These children are sometimes viewed as young gods.

During the 20th century, the visibility of locs changed due to music and social movements. In the 1970s, reggae music became popular in America and Britain.

This exposed many people to Jamaican Rastafarian culture. Rastafarians wear locs to embrace their African heritage and to defy Western beauty standards. At the same time, the civil rights movement in the United States inspired many people to embrace Black culture. In the 1970s, some White Americans also began wearing locs after being inspired by reggae and African-American hair culture. This was part of a larger countercultural movement. This movement often used styles and clothing copied from African-American culture.

In more recent decades, hip-hop and rap have played a major role in popularizing the style.

Many famous artists, such as Snoop Dogg, Lauray Hill, and Lil Wayne, wear locs. For these artists, locs are a part of hip-hop fashion. They also serve as a way to reflect Black cultural identity and music of liberation. This influence extends to other genres like Afrobeat in Uganda. In Ghana, musicians often mix reggae symbols and hip-hop clothes with traditional Ghanaian textiles. For many Black artists in the African diaspora, locs are a way to display their identity through their appearance.

Today, locs are increasingly seen in professional industries like modeling and beauty pageants.

For a long time, conservative beauty standards made it difficult for Black women to wear locs in these spaces. Some models have even been told they might not get work because of their hair. However, many women are now resisting these standards. In 2007, Zahra Redwood became the first Black woman to wear locs on a world pageant stage. Later, Sanneta Myrie wore locs to the Miss World Pageant in 2015. In 2018, Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers won Miss Universe while wearing her natural locs. These moments show how the hairstyle continues to connect to themes of heritage and beauty.